Perricone resigned in March after admitting to a string of intemperate posts at NOLA.com. Mann was demoted last month after a similar admission. Both lawyers incurred the ire of U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt, who in a stinging 50-page order last week accused them both of lying to him.

The Times noted that Engelhardt also called on the Justice Department to appoint an independent counsel to investigate leaks and other issues in the office. The Times urged Attorney General Eric Holder to "make that appointment immediately and show that the department has the will to discipline rogue lawyers in its ranks."